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Jeff Blashill done 'playing with lines' as Red Wings try to end skid

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill explains his decision to stop 'playing with the lines,' adds guys have to step up and be elite. Also hear from Anthony Mantha, Tomas Tatar and Dylan Larkin as Wings look to end losing streak. Recorded Oct. 27, 2017.

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill during the first period against the Lightning on Thursday in Tampa.(Photo: Kim Klement USA TODAY Sports)

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Detroit Red Wings were in their pre-practice meeting when Jeff Blashill delivered a message that both challenged and encouraged them.

The Wings take on the Florida Panthers on Saturday at BB&T Center, intent on overturning a six-game losing streak that Dylan Larkin said “feels worse” than last year’s turbulent start. Blashill told players which lines they would be on for practice, and that they will stay there regardless of Saturday’s score.

“I’ve played with the lines a lot,” Blashill said. “I’m done playing with the lines. The lines are the lines and the guys on those lines have to step up and make plays. We’ve got guys that have been elite in this league step up and be elite. Lots of times in these games it comes down to a player making a play. We need guys, and we have them. They need to step up and make plays.”

That includes Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar, who are back playing with Henrik Zetterberg; that’s a line that’s often worked well. Dylan Larkin is with Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou; that’s a line with speed, skill and size. Frans Nielsen is with Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader; expect that line to go against the top opposing line. Luke Glendening is with Scott Wilson and Martin Frk; the hope is Frk can still be a scoring threat, and his power play time is safe. That line is more vulnerable to change, with David Booth and Luke Witkowski possibilities to take a spot now and then.

Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy makes a save on a shot by Red Wings right wing Anthony Mantha (39) during the third period of the Wings' 3-2 loss on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. The Lightning's Victor Hedman defends. Chris O'Meara, AP

Red Wings center Frans Nielsen (51) is congratulated after he scored a goal against the Lightning during the third period of the Wings' 3-2 loss on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. Kim Klement USA TODAY Sports

Lightning left wing Alex Killorn (17) and Red Wings left wing Darren Helm (43) fight to control the puck on the boards during the third period of the Wings' 3-2 loss on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. Kim Klement USA TODAY Sports

Red Wings center Frans Nielsen (51) is congratulated by left wing Darren Helm (43) after he scored a goal during the first period on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Tampa, Fla. Kim Klement USA TODAY Sports

Blashill said the lines would be together “for the foreseeable future.” It didn’t sound like it would be short-term (barring injuries, of course) and that thrilled the young stars.

“It is good knowing that they are going to stay,” Larkin said. “He said it in front of everyone and he is not one to go against his word. I have a lot of respect for him for doing that. I’m excited to play with these two guys.

“This is time for us to come together as a unit, play hard for each other, and produce. Our team needs it.”

Larkin called the losing streak “almost a rock bottom. I haven’t felt like this in my career. It's time to turn it around.”

His line has the talent to help make that happen: Larkin and Athanasiou both have explosive speed and Mantha is a strong skater with size. All three have high-end skill. Larkin has had great chemistry with each of his wingers separately, and Mantha and Athanasiou have had great chemistry dating to their days in Detroit’s farm system. Each player wants to earn big minutes.

“We want to be impact players,” Mantha said. “We don’t want to be seen as kids. All three of us together, I think we can create a lot of offense.”

Nyquist and Tatar have played some of their best hockey when they are with Zetterberg, benefitting from how good he is protecting the puck and setting them up. Tatar started the last game with Larkin, but played with Zetterberg by the end.

“We try to do the changes during the game and it didn’t really work out,” Tatar said. “Now we are trying to stabilize it more. We have to turn it around, start doing good things, play right and hopefully we will start winning some games. We don’t have enough goals and everybody can chip in more.”

Telling players he is done changing lines is a different tactic for Blashill.

“As a coach, you try to help guys,” he said. “And sometimes they have to help themselves. Sometimes they have to step up and realize it’s not about combinations, it’s not about this, it’s not about that. I’m going to leave them the same so there is more chemistry. I think each line can be successful, and now they’ve got to play and they’ve got to make sure that on their own line, they get the job done.”

The practice came a day after Zetterberg said the Wings “aren’t good enough to win games” following a 3-2 loss at Tampa Bay. Zetterberg was not available to the media Friday, but asked for his thoughts on the comments, Blashill said, “I’m assuming what he is saying, in knowing and talking lots with Henrik, is playing like that we are not enough to win. The team in there is good enough to win, without question. We’ve proven that against good teams.

“The difference between winning and losing is miniscule. We self-inflicted last night on six penalties that were 100% not needed. We’ve killed off the most penalties in the league. Frustration is a waste of time. You’ve got to find solutions. Well there is a solution staring us right in the face: be way more disciplined. I think our penalty kill has been elite but when you have to kill that many penalties, you are just asking for trouble.”

The Wings have taken five slashing penalties the past two games, even as they have known since exhibition season that a crackdown has been instituted.

“When you slash them near the hands, you give the ref a chance to make the call,” Blashill said. “Let’s not give them a chance to make the call. Let’s not worry about what their standard is — let’s make sure it doesn’t happen. Because really, in most cases, it’s a useless play. It’s a bad habit. All three of them last night, they didn’t prevent scoring chances. They just were useless plays that cost us two minutes in the box and put a power play that’s no. 1 in the league on the power play too much. So let’s get rid of it.”

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.